Here's your guide to SURVIVING the Rose Parade

Here's a sure-fire tip for seeing the Rose Parade on New Year's Day: give yourself plenty of time, and leave your car behind.

Over the years, many locals or regular parade-goers have devised their own strategies to lessen the hassles inherent in coming to a huge event in a small city. To snag the best curbside viewing spots along the 5.5-mile route along Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards, many are poised to set up camp on marked-off area at the stroke of noon today.

Old Pasadena, close to the parade's start, is probably most popular with overnight crowds celebrating New Year's Eve, and it tends to fill up quickly. As the parade heads east it is easier to find a prime viewing place.

There are many official dos and don'ts, but the crowd is mellow, the atmosphere festive and William Flinn, the Tournament of Roses executive director, said the main things is to "try to really have fun and don't let the little things take the joy away."

PLAYING BY THE RULES

What you can do:

Maintain a permanent place on the sidewalk beginning at noon today. Everything must stay on the curb until 11 p.m., when spectators can move out to the "Blue Line" on the street

Small barbecues at least a foot off the ground are allowed on the parade route, 25 feet from buildings, but a fire extinguisher and water must be readily available

Anyone under 18 on the parade route from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. must be under the supervision of adults.

Dress for cold weather

Get enough to eat and drink

What you can't do:

Have open containers of alcohol Set up tents, sofas and boxes to be used as seats.

Set up unoccupied chairs

Light bonfires

Set off fireworks

Sell items along the parade route without a permit

Cordon or rope off any public areas — sidewalks, curbs, gutters or streets

Set up ladders or scaffolding

Buy, sell or give away horns on the parade route

Sell space along the parade route, other than grandstand seating

Throw any projectile into the parade, including tortillas, marshmallows, flowers, etc.

Obstruct emergency lanes

PLAN AHEAD

Allow plenty of time to reach your grandstand seat or chosen viewing area.

Make sure you know where your grandstand is. Many roads and freeway off-ramps are closed, and crowds converging on the same area can make it hard to get where you want to be.

Anyone with questions can call the toll-free visitor hotline at 877-793-9911 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday.

TIPS FROM THE PROS

William Flinn, Tournament of Roses executive director says: "Do your research and plan ahead. Don't expect the city to look as it does most other days — don't just head for Colorado Boulevard and hope to figure out where you want to be along the parade route. Take note of where the portable restrooms are. Dress in layers. Get a map."

Clare Donahue, veteran of 21 Rose Parade overnight camp-outs: "Most people take more sidewalk than they need. If you don't have a really big group, there's usually room to slip in."